O2 Media Awards North West 2014 - The Winners

Keeling named top newsman in O2 Awards

Emotional finale as murdered soldier’s parents praise regional press

The parents of murdered soldier Lee Rigby have named Manchester Evening News Chief Reporter Neal Keeling, as the North West’s leading news reporter in an emotional finale to this year’s O2 Media Awards.

Lyn and Ian Rigby from Greater Manchester joined other special guests at the Imperial War Museum at Salford Quays on Thursday night to praise the work of regional journalists.

Lyn said: “We’ve got to know well a number of journalists from across the region and they have been so supportive. The reception we received was overwhelming and we were so pleased to be asked to present the award in Lee’s honour.

“We never want Lee forgotten and you could genuinely feel the love in the room. I couldn’t say anything on the night because I was too emotional but we were so pleased to be asked to attend and Ian and I would like to say thank you to all the journalists from the North West who have helped us.”

Chancellor George Osborne announced BBC North West Tonight’s Jayne McCubbin as TV Reporter of the Year. Granada Reports front man Mike Hall was crowned Broadcaster of the Year by ITV newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky, while Everton boss Roberto Martinez revealed Mick Coyle of Radio City as the North West’s top sports reporter.

Other special guests included veterans of World War Two, who received a fanfare from the Duke of Lancaster’s Regimental Band as they took to the stage, Sir Tom Finney’s son Brian and daughter Barbara and former Page 3 girl Lou Varley. Emmerdale’s on-screen couple Fiona Wade and Pasha Boccarie presented the Warrington Guardian with its Weekly Newspaper of the Year trophy.

The Liverpool Echo retained its crown as Daily Newspaper of the Year and picked up a joint winners award for its week-long series of First World War supplements. They shared the Supplement of the Year crown with The Sentinel who were praised for their coverage of the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Echo photographer, Gareth Jones, was named Photographer of the Year. His award was presented by BBC Breakfast’s Mike Bushell.

The Echo also picked up the award for the year’s best scoop for its investigation into how Government computers were used to post internet slurs about the victims of the Hillsborough on Wikipedia. BBC Breakfast’s Charlie Stayt presented the trophy.

Team of the Year was the Lancashire Evening Post for their in-depth coverage of the death of football legend Sir Tom Finney. Oldham Evening Chronicle Managing Editor Dave Whaley received the Judges’ Special Award for his moving accounts of his fight to beat throat cancer.

With more than 350 individual entries the O2 Awards are the biggest regional press awards in the country. Capita, a UK leader in business process management and outsourcing solutions, provided additional sponsorship. Judging was conducted over three separate days and the panels were made up of working editors and senior news executives from print, radio and television.

Nicola Green, Director of Communications and Reputation at O2 UK, said the judging panel were hugely impressed by the tremendous examples of community journalism across the North West.

“The O2 awards are a celebration of all that is good about regional media.”

Bob Buiaroski, Capita O2 Partnership Director, said the Awards were one of the most prestigious of their type in the UK.

“The fantastic work of regional journalists across North West needs to be showcased,” he added.